Richard francis downey



No. 6|5,687. I Patented Dec. 13, I898. R. F. DOWNEY.

DETAGHABLE RUNNER FOR WHEELED VEHICLES.

[Application filed Feb. 21, 1898.)

(No Model.)

lll lllll lUl I NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD FRANCIS DOWNEY, OF HALF TO 0. A. MOGINLEY MENOMINEE, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE AND F. GREGORY, OF SAME PLACE.

DETACHABLl-i RUNNER FOR WHEELED VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 615,687, dated. December 1 3, 1898.

Application filed February 21, 1898. Serial No. 671,110.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD FRANCIS DOWNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Menominee,in the county of Menominee and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Detachable Runners for Wheeled Vehicles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled inihe art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in detachable runners adapted to be placed on a wheeled vehicle to change the same into a sleigh; and it consists of the runners and devices for attaching the same constructed and arranged as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which the same letters of reference are used to designate the same parts in the several views, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of 'a baby-carriage with the wheels on the nearest side removed and my improved runners attached thereto, showing the same in position for use. Fig. 2 represents a rear elevation of the same with the runners folded beneath the running-gear. Fig. 3 represents a rear elevation of the running-gear with the runners in the same position as that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the clip for attaching the runners to the front axle of the carriage. Fig. 5 represents a central longitudinal section taken through one of the clips for attaching the runners to the rear axle, and Fig. 6 is a similar view of the other clip for the same purpose.

A designates a baby-carriage construction, provided with the running-gear A. and the handle A Near each end of the front axle a is secured, by a bolt or other suitable device, a clip B, having the lower slotted extension 6, as shown in Fig. i of the drawings, and near one end of the rear axle a is secured a clip 0, as shown in Fig. 5, having a downward projection o, in which is swiveled, 4 as at c, a slotted piece 0, and near the other end of the rear axle is secured a clip D, as shown in Fig. 6, having a slotted piece D 50 swiveled thereto, as at d. p

The runners E are preferably made of steel of the usual- (No model.)

or other resilient material and may be of any suitable form, having the upwardly-curved front portions 6, terminatingin the horizontal portions e, adapted to enter the slots in the extensions 1) of the clips B, and also provided with the upwardly-turned lugs 6 which when the runners are in proper positionwill be situated one on each side of the said extensions b of the clips B, as shown in Fig. 1. 4

The rear ends of the runners E are bent upwardly, as at E, and horizontally to form the shoulders 0 terminating in a vertical extension 6", adapted to pass through the slots in the swiveled pieces 0 and D of the clips 0 and D. The vertical extensions e are provided with rearwardly-turned lugs e, which when the runners are in use are situated one above and one below the swiveled pieces C and D in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the resiliency of the runners being such as to cause them to press backwardly against the rear ends of the slots in the said pieces 0 and D, the weight of the carriage being carried upon the lower lugs 6 as will be evident.

hen the runners are in position for use, they will be slightly spread, as shown in Fig. 3, the forward ends resting against the inner sides of the front wheels of the carriage and the rear ends held from spreading too much by a chain F, secured at its ends to the rear upright portions E of the runners, as shown. A second chain F is provided, having a ring f at its lower end and a similar ring f at its upper end. The chain F is-arranged to pass 8 5 through the ring f on the lower end of the chain F, and when the runners are in the position for use the ring f is hung on a hook a on the handle A of the carriage, thus keeping the said chain F up out of the way. \Vhen it is desired to change from the run ners to the Wheels, the handle is pressed downwardly with a slight jerk, which will unseat the ends of the slotted pieces 0 and D from the lugs 6 allowing the vertical por- 5 tions 6 of the runners to pass through the slots, the runners taking the position shown by dotted lines in Fig; 1 and allowing the rear Wheels to rest upon the ground. Then by pressing downwardly uponthe handle until the forward ends of the runners are lifted above the ground the runners may be raised to the position shown in Fig. 2 by pulling up wardly on the chain F and hooking the ring f over the hook or on the under side of the handpiece A of the handle of the carriage. During this operation the forward ends 6 of the runners will turn in the slots in the extensions b of the clips B and the swiveled pieces 0 and D will turn on theirswivel connections c and d, the runners finally assuming the folded position shown in Fig. 2, the runner connected with the piece 0, swiveled to the downward projection a, folding beneath the other runner, the extension I) on the same side being correspondingly lengthened, as at b in Fig. 2.

Vhen it is desired to change from the wheels to the runners, the handle is pressed downwardly until the front wheels are lifted from the ground. The ring f is then released from the hook a and the runners allowed to drop on the ground, which will bring them to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the forward ends falling beneath the front wheels. Then by raising the rear Wheels and throwing the weight of the carriage upon the forward ends of the runners the rear ends of the latter will fall into the position shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a wheeled vehicle, of clips secured to the axles of the said vehicle, slotted extensions secured to the said clips, runners extending through the slots in the said extensions, lugs on the said runners to hold the latter in position in the said slots, the said runners being adapted to extend below the wheels of the said vehicle, and also to be folded beneath the axles of the same, means for holding the said runners from spreading when in use, and means for holding the same in the folded position, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the the combination with character described, a Wheeled vehicle, of

clips secured to the front axle thereof, slotted clips, clips secured to extensions on the said the rear axles, slotted extensions swiveled to the latter clips, runners extending through the said slots, lugs on the said runners to hold the same in proper position in the said slots, the said runners being adapted to extend below the wheels of the said vehicle, and also to be folded beneath the axles of the same, means for holding the said runners from spreading, and means for holding the same in the folded position, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a wheeled vehicle, of clips secured to the axles of the said vehicle, slotted extensions secured to the said clips, runners extending through the slots in the said extensions, lugs on the said runners to hold the latter in position on the said slots, the said runners being adapted to extend below the wheels of the said vehicle, and also to be folded beneath the axles of the same, a chain F connected to the said runners to hold them from spreading, and a chain F connected to the chain F and adapted to be secured to the vehicle, to hold the said runners in their folded position, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with a wheeled vehicle, of clips secured to the front axle thereof, slotted extensions on the said clips, clips secured to the rear axles, slotted extensions swiveled to the latter clips, runners extending through the said slots, lugs on the said runners to hold the same in proper position in the said slots, shoulders e 011 the said runners to limit their movement through the said slotted extensions, the said runners being adapted to extend below the wheels of the said vehicle, and also to be folded beneath the axles of the same, means for holding the said runners from spreading, and means for holding the same in the folded position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD FRANCIS DOWN EY.

\Vitnesses:

FRANK D. BLACKISTONE, J. STEPHEN GIUSTA. 

